Gallup: Texas ranks 10th among most religious states in the Union

The latest from Gallup shows what is a well-established perception that the Northeast generally is less religious than the South and Southwest.

Texas ranked 10th for states where religion plays an important role, which was the main question in the poll.

Here are the top 10 states:

1. Mississippi

2. Alabama

3. South Carolina

4. Tennessee

5. Louisiana

6. Arkansas

7. Georgia

8. North Carolina

9. Oklahoma

10. Texas and Kentucky (tied)

Here are the top-10 least religious states:

1. Vermont

2. New Hampshire

3. Maine

4. Massachusetts

5. Alaska

6. Washington

7. Oregon

8. Rhode Island

9. Nevada

10. Connecticut

This also reflects the thrust of studies on megachurches, which tend to be in the South and Southwest.

Having lived in New York City, I know that religion in a visible way is not generally part of the culture of the Northeast.

I remember when I moved from the Big Apple to East Texas as an elementary aged kid, I was asked about religion early on in meeting folks. And they meant what type of Christian denomination, not what world religion.

In the Northeast, you just don’t ask that question right off the bat until you have an established rapport.

However, I would argue that religion still is a strong element of the Northeast, but the expression of it is more tempered and private as opposed to the other regions.

Certainly the Catholic Church and the Jewish faith are two examples of vibrant religious communities in the Northeast.